Elbotrio light



P. 10. JENKINS.

' ELECTRIC LIGHT. No. 260,029. Patented l-Jlme 27, V1882..

' (No Model.)

A UNITED i STrfrnS PATENT f Ormea;

i PHILIP O. JENKINS, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

ELECTRIC LIGHT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 260,029, dated June 27, 1882.

Application filed September 28, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PHrLiP OscAn JEN- KINS, of the city of' Washington, District of Columbia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in a Lamp for the Production of Electric Light by Incandcscence, of which the following is a specification. Y

'similar substance, which I so excavate from the outer ends or sides to a point near the center as to correspond with exactness to the size and form of the carbons inserted. This. excavated body I make of' spherical, spheroidal, sphero-cylindrical, cylindrical, or at pleasure ofthe form of' the carbons within, and these I make of such thickness as may be required to be broughtto a state of' incandescence, as in such case a given extent of surface must correspond to a given amount or intensity of heat. The exact dimensions of said body therefore cannot be fixed for every case. The center of this carbon-surrounding body (the extent of which is the necessary space or interval between the carbon points for the break 7 or resistance) I perf'orate and introduce a small plumbago pencil or other carbon or similar conductor, which I make to touch by firm contact each carbon point, the object of' which is to start the current when electrical connections are made with an electrical generator in action without having to bring the points together and separate them again. This pencil connecting the carbon points is of size sufficient merely to start the current, or, rather, to permit its passage, and answering to about the capacity of an atmospheric break of a somewhat reduced strain, or minus its full tension, so as tomaintain, and yet not to impair, the value of the break. Thus I gain the full value of the break that would be required in an arc-light, and, as

- will be seen, without the wasting effect of combustion.

' lent to an air-exhausted tube.

The carbons inserted in the zirconia or other like body are made to ft in them on the principle of a ground-glass-stoppered bottle, and so perfect is theiit that in introducing them from the outer ends of the investing body the air is pressed to the center, in which I effect from without to the center of' the investing 'body (communicating with the carbon points) a small opening of any desired form, in which, after introducing the carbons with the connecting-pencil of carbon or other like substance, I introduce a burning taper, and. while still burning l plug either with powdered zirconia or other refractory substance and pack or insert a wedge of the same material of solid form, which I make t on the same principle named for tting the carbons in their surroundingbody. Thus Igain what is equiva- The outer ends of the carbons I arm with closely-fittin g metal caps, (or other hard and conducting substance may be used,) which serve to connect the wires conveying the electricity and prevent the ingress of air.

When this lamp is placed in contact or connection with a competent `electrical generator the carbons, becoming intensely heated at their points, soon bring the surrounding body to a state of incandescence, and this investing body becomes the mediate source of alight that is uniform and continuous.

This device, virtually excluding all the air from the carbons, prevents their combustion and consequent wasting away; nor can they waste by'volatilization, as they are closely surrounded by and in close contact with their firm surrounding body; nor can the viti'atin g effects of clpuding the glass around the lamp, when used, be interposed, and as the zirconia forming the carbon-investing body is among the most refractory substances known, it can be depended on to resist the disintegration which might be expected from the intense heat it is subjected to.

This device may be used with or without a glass globe or tube, but preferably with one. The carbons used to bring their surrounding body to incandesence need not be more than about two inches in length, and can easily be removed and others inserted when necessary.

Figures l, 2, 3, 4, and 5 show the different extern al forms that may be used. Fi g. 6, show- IOO ing a sectional view, indicates the special structure of each type. Thus, a shows the body ot' the lamp; b b,tl1e invested carbons with, at @,the small connecting-piece described. 5 d shows the opening, as described,in the center and'communicating with the carbon-pointconnecting piece, which is made to allow the air which is pressed to the center, by inserting the airtigl1tttin gcarbons, to pass out, so that 1o by the means already described the air is all virtually removed. e shows the Wedge (when of solid material) which, being made also to fit air-tight, further prevents theingress of air when pressed firmly in the small opening at d. i 5 f f show the metal or other material caps, the uses of which have been already named. g g show the ends of the wires connecting the lamp with an electrical generator.

What I claim as my invention, and for which zo I ask Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination of the inelosed carbon or other electrodes of like refractory and conducting capacity, their surrounding body of rc fractory non-conducting substance, the intermediate connecting-piece, which connects the z5 two carbon points or electrodes, and the closely-fitting caps of conducting material placed in close contact with the carbons and carbon-investing body, Whereby the ingress ot' air is prevented and electrical contact with the carbon 3o ends is maintained.

2. The combination of the carbonsaud their inclosing-body, the former fitted-airtight within the latter and thelatter provided with asrnall conical orifice, and the conical or Wedge shaped 35 plug adapted to fit said orifice so as to exclude the air from contact with the carbons, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

PHILIP OSCAR JENKINS.' Witnesses:

GEO. F. GRAHAM, S. ARCHER. 

